Steven Gerrard has insisted the players - and not McClaren - have let England down since the World Cup finals after the head coach was subject to a torrent of abuse from supporters during the Euro qualifier with Andorra.

Gerrard admitted the opening 45 minutes in the Olympic Stadium were the most difficult he has experienced as a player with McClaren under fire from the moment his picture appeared on the giant screen before kick-off.

The likes of Graham Taylor, Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan and Sven-Goran Eriksson never received such personal and sustained attacks from the terraces during the lowest points of their respective regimes.

England sub Jermain Defoe, who's claiming their third goal in the Andorra match, revealed: "It was hard to be honest, even on the bench.

"It was difficult for the boys out there. At half-time you could see on their faces, you just can't believe what you're hearing.

"In a way, you can understand the frustration of the fans. They expect us to win games like that and we should win games like that.

"But at the same time they have to realise that everyone is trying their hardest, even in training, everyone is putting it in.

"The first half was difficult. When you're under so much pressure and people expect you to win 5-0 or 6-0 you try and force it too much.

"You just want to get the goal instead of relaxing and playing. You know the quality is going to come through. You're forcing it and people are getting frustrated. It's never easy."

Skipper John Terry has pleaded with England fans not to vent their frustrations until after the final whistle in matches insisting: "We need them behind us to help get to the Euro finals".

Terry said: "I've said before that everyone is entitled to their opinion and fans pay big money and travel long distances to follow us. But during the game it is not going to help us.

"Fifteen minutes into the game we heard certain things and every one of us took it in - and it's not nice. During the game that is not going to help the England players or us going forward to the finals.

"All I'd ask for is to keep their opinions until after the game which they are fully entitled to voice. During the game when there are three points to play for, we fully need them behind us."

But Gerrard is adamant the players have to take the blame as he almost single-handedly dragged England from the depths of despair with two second-half goals in a 3-0 win against a side ranked 163rd in the world by FIFA.

Now victory in Estonia in June will set England up for a crucial period in the autumn when four of their last five group games will be at the new Wembley.

The Liverpool skipper said: "We are in it together. Steve McClaren is our manager, we believe in him. We are the players he has picked and we are the players that have left the country down over the last seven or eight performances.

"He is getting all the stick from the fans and media and as a player you want to help him and stick together and that is what we are trying to do to turn it around.

"It is difficult to concentrate when the manager is getting so much stick. As a player you try and focus on the game and try and blank out what the fans are singing but you can't.

"You can here it but you've got to get on with it. I've never played in that kind of atmosphere before but I understand it. The supporters were disappointed we never got three points in Israel and so are the players."

Terry added: He said: "It is fully worth it coming here and playing for your country. There is nothing better. But it is not fair what they were singing about the manager on Wednesday night.

"We came here as a group of players, came out and said 'it's us, not the manager who is to blame.' He has prepared us and did everything he could coming into these games with Israel and Andorra.

"We felt as a group of players coming out and saying that, it was us who should have taken the flak. It is just not fair on the manager especially during the games.

"I would like to reiterate we are behind him 100 per cent."

Alan Curbishley believes it is "part and parcel" of being England manager to receive intense criticism - and McClaren's only option is to get on with the job in hand.

Curbishley was among the candidates to take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup but lost out to McClaren, who suffered a torrent of abuse from fans in Barcelona as England failed to impress against Andorra.

"I don't think anyone who went on those interviews were under any illusion that if you got the results it would be great and if you didn't get the results you'd get some stick," said West Ham boss Curbishley.

"We realised the size of the job and the responsibility of the job and what comes with it.

"It's a results-driven business - Steve knows that and we all know that. When you're not top of the league the criticism will be there, I think he will accept that because he knows it's part and parcel of it."

He added: "I've always looked from afar at people who are having a bad time - bad results and press - and wondered what it's like. I found out as Steve's finding out now.

"I think he'll reflect on it like I did - 'if the results aren't there then you're fair game'.

"The only way you can bat it off is when you start getting results. Steve will know that."

Sheffiel United boss Neil Warnock added: "It's a sad situation when you see the kind of criticism that Steve is getting at the moment.

"I know that it is par for the course but it's one of the reasons I would never, ever recommend the England job to anyone.

"Why anyone would ever dream of wanting it, I don't know.

"I think it's the worst job in football - unless you go in thinking 'to hell with it'."

Manchester City and England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce added: "It is part of the job. The natural thing nowadays is that everyone has an opinion, and I suppose that is what makes the game so good."

Bolton's Sam Allardyce said: "The criticism is very ferocious indeed but that is the world we live in and we all know it is coming our way if we don't get results.

"While we all think it's over the top, that's life. But the stick doesn't help the team play better."

"Maybe the written press have an agenda," said Blackburn and ex-Wales supremo, Mark Hughes.

"As soon as there is a new appointment of an England manager, I think they make it their aim to get him out as quickly as possible. It's a game they seem to be playing."

McClaren's players also paid tribute to his half-time team talk which lifted their spirits in the cauldron of hate from their own fans in Barcelona.

Tottenham forward Defoe insisted McClaren had been a calming influence during the half-time team talk.

Defoe revealed: "What he said was 'keep it going, we're still in the game.' The way he spoke at half time was like we were winning, like we had a few goals. I think that's great character from the manager.

"Everyone knows Steve McClaren is a nice guy, a good coach.

"At half time he was good for the boys because everyone was down. He just came in, he was cool, and he just said 'go out there, we're going to win the game, be patient, don't force it.'

"He didn't seem like he was under any pressure. He knew that once we got the first goal we would get another one and for me, that's good management.

"To be honest, he was chuffed after the game. He said 'well done boys, we had to be patient.'"

FA chief Brian Barwick said he had heard the jeers of the crowd and backed their right to protest...but only so far.

"They spend a lot of money following their team, turn up in huge numbers - everywhere - and offer fantastic vocal support," he said.

"Over the past two matches, they have also loudly expressed their frustration during parts of the games. I buy that as their right - no problem.

"I do, however, feel that there is a line to draw between acceptable criticism and personal vilification and abuse. One is fair, the other is not."